VISITING THE SHOALS

Uncle Oscar is back. With the MV Thomas Laighton no longer ferrying tourists to Star Island – so far – only one local boat is offering daily stopover service to the Isles of Shoals this summer. Curiously, the converted fishing boat is named for Thomas Laighton’s son – Oscar Laighton – affectionately known as Uncle Oscar. Click for more info

MUCH MORE: How to Get to the Shoals

UNCLE OSCAR IS BACK IN THE FERRY BUSINESS

It seems inevitable that other cruise boats will eventually begin providing summer "stopover" and "walkabout" visits to Star Island. But for now, old Uncle Oscar, a converted fishing boat out of Rye Harbor, NH, is the only vessel making daily trips for visitors who actually want to get on to Star Island and walk around, then return the same day.

Star Island conference members and Shoals Marine Lab students have their own ferries this year. The sudden change, breaking decades of tradition, occurred when the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company ceased its ferry service this summer. The MV Thomas Laighton still offers a full schedule of narrated tours around the Shoals. But only Uncle Oscar, owned by Captain Sue Reynolds will be taking up to 20 visitors at a time to Star Island during July and August.

Reynolds, a middle school teacher, also created and organizes The Lighthouse Kids, who are raising the funds to save White Island Lighthouse – funds the state of New Hampshire was unwilling to put up itself. Reynolds runs a morning Lobster Fishing demonstration tour, then makes at least two daily trips to Star, weather permitting. Those wishing an instant taxi service to the Shoals can pay independent vessels up to $150 per trip, but Reynolds offers regularly scheduled trips beginning at $20.

SeacoastNH.com was aboard for the first scheduled trip of the season and we took these pictures of Sue, her assistant Max, and a few friendly passengers. For details on trips aboard the Uncle Oscar, check out the official Island Cruises web site. – JDR

MORE: On Oscar's sister Celia

Photos copyright (c) 2005 SeacoastNH.com. All rights reserved.
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LOGHTHOUSE KIDS PAY STATE OF NH
TO SAVE WHITE ISLAND

Governor Lynch Accepts $110,000 from the Lighthouse Kids
Restoration of the White Island Lighthouse Station to Begin
July 2005

Concord, New Hampshire- Amid the customs and decorum of the New Hampshire Governor and Council Meeting, the Lighthouse Kids presented Governor John Lynch with their hard earned check for an impressive $110,000 to begin restoration of the endangered White Island Lighthouse. The North Hampton seventh graders were on the Governor and Executive Council’s agenda for Wednesday, June 22 at the New Hampshire State House in Concord. In accepting the check, the Governor and Council authorized the Division of Parks and Recreation to expend the money for conservation and restoration of the White Isla Station. The Governor personally congratulated and shook hands with each of the sixteen Lighthouse Kids in attendance for their dedication and hard work.

Executive Councilor Ruth L. Griffin also applauded the students, suggesting that they might consider a career in New Hampshire politics in light of their love for the state. She then proposed that the week of June 19 be forever declared Lighthouse week which was subsequently authorized by Governor Lynch.

The check represented money the Lighthouse Kids raised through corporate and private fundraising, foundation grants and merchandise sales. It will be matched by a portion of the $250,000 Save America’s Treasures grant, helping the Lighthouse Kids move closer toward their goal of raising a total of $550,000 for restoration of the White Island Station, Keeper’s Cottage, out buildings and landing.

Though total costs have not yet been realized, with the sum presented, restoration will begin this summer and continue over the next two years. The Lighthouse Kids are betting their current public art project, Lighthouse LobStars! will raise a significant amount of the remaining $190,000 necessary for restoration. Over 20 LobStar sculptures designed and painted or adorned by seacoast artists will be installed in locations throughout the seacoast this summer, then sold at auction on October 1 at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye. Numerous seacoast students have been selected to paint tabletop versions othe sculptures also to be sold at auction. The project has brought students, businesses and artists together all sharing the goal of saving the Lighthouse. To join the effort to save the White Island Lighthouse or for more information, visit lightousekids.com.

Contact: Jen King 964-6986